Washington, November 24 : Tracy Chapman has raised her voice in praise of Madonna, saying that she admires the singer's ability to dominate the age-biased music scene consistently with decades of her career.

The four-time Grammy Award winner insisted that the industry suffered from the age bracket prejudice and preferred young artists - a belief shaken by Madonna, who has managed to top the charts and woo fans all over the world for the last 25 years.

"Is it harder for women in the industry in general? Definitely," Contactmusic quoted her as telling The Guardian.

"I was trying to make a case for Madonna the other day, saying that she's to be admired for her longevity in a genre that has mostly been for younger acts," she added.

Tracy further admitted to being provoked when she heard whispers that the Queen of Pop should pass on her legendary title to a younger heir.

She added: "Men are able to sustain a career into their 50s and 60s and still present themselves as sex symbols. With women on the other hand, people say, 'Why doesn't she retire?' It's just so unfair. So I have to give props to Madonna."